cauliflower

noun

cau·​li·​flow·​er ˈkȯ-li-ˌflau̇(-ə)r  ˈkä- 

-lē-

often attributive

: a garden plant (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) related to the cabbage and grown for its compact edible head of usually white undeveloped flowers

also : its flower cluster used as a vegetable

Examples of cauliflower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Put the cauliflower florets in a food processor, cover and pulse until they’re ground to coarse bits, about the size of raisins, not like fine, riced cauliflower. —Francesca Giuliani Hoffman, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025

The main course comes with a choice of five entrées, including honey walnut prawns, cauliflower with beef and Saigon crispy chicken. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Dec. 2025

There’s no specific daily recommendation for broccoli or cauliflower on their own, but both count toward your total vegetable intake. —Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 16 Dec. 2025

Sulforaphane, which is abundant in broccoli sprouts, cauliflower, kale, and cabbage, is a phytochemical that is believed to support the body’s detoxification enzymes and act as an antioxidant. —Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian cavolfiore, from cavolo cabbage (from Late Latin caulus, from Latin caulis stem, cabbage) + fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at cole, blow

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cauliflower

• cauliflower ear

Rhymes for cauliflower

• candlepower
• overpower
• superpower
• vavasour
• waterpower
• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower
• manpower

Kids Definition

cauliflower

noun

cau·​li·​flow·​er ˈkȯ-li-ˌflau̇(-ə)r 

: a garden plant closely related to the cabbage and grown for its compact edible head of usually white undeveloped flowers